Back to Events
Cryptid

Thunderbird Sightings

Native American legends speak of giant birds. In 1890, Arizona cowboys allegedly killed one and posed with its enormous wingspan. The photo exists only in memory—everyone recalls seeing it, but no one can find it.

April 26, 1890
Tombstone, Arizona, USA
100+ witnesses

The Giant Birds

Thunderbirds—enormous flying creatures—appear in Native American traditions across the continent. In modern times, sightings continue, including a famous 1890 Arizona incident and a mysteriously missing photograph that thousands recall seeing.

The Legends

Native American tradition:

  • Universal presence
  • Many tribes
  • Giant birds
  • Supernatural powers
  • Thunder connection

The 1890 Incident

Tombstone, Arizona:

  • Cowboys found bird
  • Enormous wingspan
  • Killed creature
  • Transported to town
  • Displayed

The Tombstone Epitaph

Newspaper reported:

  • April 26, 1890
  • Giant winged creature
  • Pterodactyl-like
  • Detailed description
  • Historic record

The Missing Photo

Strange phenomenon:

  • Many recall seeing it
  • Cowboys posed with bird
  • Wings stretched
  • Barn wall background
  • Cannot be found

The Mandela Effect

Collective memory:

  • Thousands remember photo
  • Published in magazines
  • TV documentaries
  • Yet no copy exists
  • Mass false memory?

Modern Sightings

Recent reports:

  • Pennsylvania 2001
  • Texas various years
  • Alaska
  • Southwest states
  • Ongoing encounters

The Descriptions

What witnesses report:

  • Wingspan 15-20 feet
  • Featherless
  • Leathery wings
  • Long beak
  • Prehistoric appearance

Illinois 1977

July 25 incident:

  • Marlon Lowe, age 10
  • Grabbed by bird
  • Lifted off ground
  • Dropped
  • Terrified family

Possible Explanations

Theories include:

  • Surviving pterosaurs
  • Giant condors
  • Unknown species
  • Misidentification
  • Mass hysteria

Pterosaur Connection

Some suggest:

  • Living pterodactyls
  • Survived extinction
  • Remote habitats
  • Rare encounters
  • Impossible?

Investigation Challenges

Why difficult:

  • Brief sightings
  • No specimens
  • Vast territory
  • Rare encounters
  • No proof

Native American Perspective

Traditional view:

  • Real beings
  • Spiritual significance
  • Respect required
  • Ancient knowledge
  • Not dismissed

Significance

Universal cryptid with deep cultural roots and modern sightings, including one of cryptozoology’s greatest mysteries—the missing photograph.

Legacy

Thunderbirds represent the possibility that unknown giant flying creatures still exist, connecting ancient tradition with modern encounters.

Browse More Events View on Map